Living Cost Compare
Colorado Springs

Colorado

$1,470/mo est.

vs
Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania

$1,300/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,470 in Colorado Springs, CO versus $1,300 in Pittsburgh, PA. Overall, Pittsburgh, PA is roughly 12% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Colorado Springs, CO, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $83,198 in Colorado Springs, CO and $64,137 in Pittsburgh, PA — about 23% higher in Colorado Springs, CO. Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax; Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax.

Colorado Springs, CO
Pittsburgh, PA

Rent

Studio
$998
$1,109
+11% in Pittsburgh, PA
1 Bedroom
$1,305
$1,079
+17% in Colorado Springs, CO
2 Bedroom
$1,504
$1,269
+16% in Colorado Springs, CO
3 Bedroom
$1,881
$1,450
+23% in Colorado Springs, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$420,700
$193,200
+54% in Colorado Springs, CO

Income

Median Household Income
$83,198
$64,137
+23% in Colorado Springs, CO
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$52,710
$49,650
+6% in Colorado Springs, CO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.6 yr
33.5 yr
+2.1 yr in Colorado Springs, CO
Homeownership
61.3%
47.2%
+14.1 pp in Colorado Springs, CO
Bachelor's+ (25+)
41.9%
47.8%
+5.9 pp in Pittsburgh, PA
Avg Commute
22.8 min
23.1 min
+0.3 min in Pittsburgh, PA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
722.1
436
+40% in Colorado Springs, CO
Property Crime
3,488.7
2,315.7
+34% in Colorado Springs, CO

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
49.0°F
51.8°F
+2.8°F in Pittsburgh, PA
Annual Precipitation
16.5 in
39.3 in
+22.8 in in Pittsburgh, PA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.25/gal
$3.86/gal
+9% in Colorado Springs, CO

Area: Colorado vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
—

Adult base one-way fare — Mountain Metro vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.2
21.6
+33% in Pittsburgh, PA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$11.92
$19.17
+61% in Pittsburgh, PA

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.31
+10% in Colorado Springs, CO
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.92
+6% in Colorado Springs, CO
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.90
+6% in Colorado Springs, CO
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.19
+9% in Pittsburgh, PA
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.69
about equal

Average prices — West vs Northeast (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CO / PA)
2.9%
6%
+3.1 pp in PA
Income Tax (top rate)
4.40%
3.07%
+1.3 pp in CO

Colorado Springs vs Pittsburgh — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Colorado Springs or Pittsburgh?
Pittsburgh, PA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 12% below Colorado Springs, CO's $1,470, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Colorado Springs than in Pittsburgh?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $52,000 a year in Colorado Springs versus $43,000 in Pittsburgh.
Which has lower taxes, Colorado Springs or Pittsburgh?
Colorado Springs is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax); Pittsburgh under Pennsylvania's (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).